Now, if only Americans could learn to bake bread. Don't get me wrong, PB&J just wouldn't be right without Bunny Bread but there's no substituting a hearty bread when sopping up stew gravy.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/09/12 at 11:57 AM

I often make fresh from bread flour, yeast, etc ... it's so good and makes the house smell wonderful. People here in the US don't understand that in Europe stopping every day or so for fresh baked bread and some other things is normal there.

Patty is off babysitting instead of practicing baby making btw Expat .. she will be along later today.

Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 09/09/12 at 12:38 PM

@Expat. Now you're talking. Made some fresh Italian bread this morning. Nothing more than flour, yeast, water, and salt. Thats the way real bread used to be made. Not that soft weightless fake stuff. Real bread goes 'thunk' when you put a loaf on the table.

Posted by breadislife on 09/09/12 at 12:40 PM

If you only eat candy one or twice a week, it is quite the rush. Back then you didn't have money to spend on junk everyday. U know people from that era, you get stories of saving up for a week to buy a soda.

Posted by Baughbe on 09/09/12 at 01:20 PM

My mom made the best bread from scratch. In fact everything she made was wonderful. Gosh, I miss her.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/09/12 at 06:22 PM

European bread....yum! Dark rye with caraway seeds.
Are those "bread machines" any good?? I have seen them in stores. Like a crock pot but for bread.

Back in elementary school we made glue with flour and water, used it for art projects.
And there was a kid who could squish a whole piece of Wonder Bread into his mouth all at once, by makng it into smaller and smaller squares. Ick.

Patty, saw your post and am sending you a hug [______]

Posted by girlgeniusNYC in los angeles on 09/09/12 at 09:45 PM

Patty,When I was little I thought that "scratch" was some kind of wondrous stuff. Some mystery ingredient that you could make anything from!
Pancakes from scratch! Pies from scratch! cake from scratch! Bread from scratch! Anyone who knew the secrets of the scratch was special!

Posted by Tyrusguy on 09/09/12 at 11:52 PM

I'll take a "malted" anytime - in fact, at one time in Germany, I went on a liquid diet - just beer, milk and orange juice for a month. Did me a world of good. But that was in my late '20's. I'd at least want some soft-boiled eggs, now.

Posted by done on 09/10/12 at 01:41 AM

Thanks GG. Tyrusguy, that is so cute, but then you were an adorable little boy. Danny, of course you'd want eggs! A while ago we had a story about a guy who went on a beer only diet for lent, he called it the liquid bread diet.

Strangely, "Ol' Scratch" used to be a moniker for Satan. So, now you know where grandma REALLY got her recipes from.

Posted by done on 09/10/12 at 10:26 AM

FWIW, my Dad has a bread machine that turns out quite reasonable semi-crusty white bread. I, personally, find it easier to stop by the bakery in my local Publix.
Now, if I could find a brioche machine...